Can you build a map in maya or 3ds and then import it into tribes ed?

Is that what they mostly did at irrational anyways? I'd feel like I have more control that way.

you can build all the bases, etc in a 3d app like maya, export it as a static mesh and then use it. As far as I can tell, it's actually preferable to do it that way; the engine actually prefers to render static meshes, 3d cards can speed up all sorts of calculations ion static meshes that they can't on normal BSP brushes.
Theres a lot of info at the UDN site on this. here's a bit on how to export static meshes from maya:
http://udn.epicgames.com/Two/StaticMeshesFromMaya

you'll wanna use the proprietary tools for building the terrain, but for everything else, static meshes are preferrable.

you'll wanna use the proprietary tools for building the terrain, but for everything else, static meshes are preferrable.

No, actuallyyou'll want to use another tool for building the terrain. Bryce is nice, I think IG used a free tool called "worldbuilder", but the proprietary terrain tool is somewhat cumbersome.